the willis report is next. ♪ gerri: hello, everybody, i'm gerri willis, a meeting between congressional leaders and the white house to add vert the fiscal cliff scheduled for tomorrow, but, guess what? the president will not be attending it, secretary tim geithner will. regardless of the -show tomorrow, president obama is hopeful to get a deal done by christmas, not inspiring confidence for pushing small businesses as key democrati

leaders refuse to put entitlements on the table. for more on all of this, republican congressman langford of oklahoma. congressman, welcome back, always great to have youere. >> thank y very much. gerri: president with strong words for congress. here's what he had to say. >> if congress does nothing, every family in america will see their taxes automatically go up at the beginning of next wreer. right now, as we speak, coness can pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody's income. gerri: there's the president calling out congress. what do you have to say, congressman? >> yeah, here we go in the middle of this. the house passed all our tax things in april. we passed the sequestering documents in may. we waited for the senate since may to reciprocate on that. the senate and white house sat on it, and they said we'll see you in the lame duck period. now it's lame duck, and now they

want to get started when we finished or work in may on it. it's been frustrating in the process. it's the same song, 38th verse on it, waiting for the senate to get it going. now we're actually going, a the president now says you can clear the table on this. the reality is this iss not a tx issue. it never has been a tax issue. we have the same amount of revenue coming in in 2012 tat we had in 2007, but we spend a trillion dollars more per year now th we did five years ago. thiss a spending issue. gerri: spending or revenue, that is, the amount of money taken in by the federal government has recovered, and it's doing much better. >> right. gerri: turning your tarns to a conversation going on for days lately. the most recent adherent oklahoma congressman tom cole saying, look, republicans need to compromise. they need to keep tax cuts in place forpeople earning $250,000 and less. heays it's time to make a

change and now people on the hill saying that the g.o.p. is splintering. what do you say? >> that's not true. actually, what tom was trying to say was it's a tax call thing. tom is against raising taxes on any level. he's against raising taxes on all folks, but have agreement with the president onhis group that's $250,000 and less, clear the table and make the bracket.ions in the upper he's against raising rates on every single one of those. th's been a clarification. gerri: what about corker and grahm and all these people in washington, elected representatives now saying,you know, i'm rethinking whether there should be a no tax pledge. >> true. that's on the senate side. on the house side,evenue was on the table a long time ago, as in last summer of 2011 and said if we reform the tax code, clear junk deductions out that for the

upper brackets, thers more revenue and simplifies the system, and at its best, the tax code is designed to be as simple as possible which is a mess right now, and if you clear that out, people going back to making profit. when i was growg up, profit wa a six-letter word, but now it's a four-letter word, and if you make a profit people want to punish you. gerri: if it was simple, people wouldn't know what to do. >> i do, i understand, but that's the way we get taxes in is that people make more pfit, then we have more tax revenue. gerri: what about what bowles had to say in i want you to listen to him. >> okay. >> i'm not encouraged or discouragedded. i'm really worried at we have a real probability we could go over the cliff, and that would be catastrophic. gerri: here's somebody who co-chaired the debt commission, saw all his recommendations ignored, and now he's saying there's a darn good chance, a 333% chance, we're going over that cliff. if we don'to over, there's some quasi reform that happens,

nothing major. what do you think of that? >> yeah our hope is that there's major -- we laid the ground work in the ways and means committee this entire year for major tax reform saying we want to do that. we put that in front of the president saying we want to do major tax reform. all the things the president wants to do, we laid it out saying if you reform the tax system, there's more income coming in the other way. in the obamacare taxes, that's january 1st next year. those making $200,000 and more have a tax increase in their rate already starting the 1st. the president wants an additional tax increase on top of the obamacare increase on the exact same group. we say, wow, that's not right. gerri: not just that, but layer after laye on taxes from everything op inco, investment income, dividends, the list goes on and on, but i want to ask you this question, and, quickly, running out of time. you know, stocks went up today, and sometimes investors have

insights that other pple don't. they believe there are signs of a deal. what do you say? >> i believe there's signs of a deal as well. boehner, met with him this morning, the leadership group, and the conference, and he's optimistic there's a deal. he's working on it. the frame work is there to get it done. we need all the players engaged and the president to stay in town and engage in e issues of solving this, again, we go back to we laid the frame work for this in may of this past year, and we can function on that frame work and move off own lve it from there, but it needs to be resolved. we totally agree. gerri: all right. congressman, come back soon. good to talk to you. >> will do, thank you. gerri: what do you think? should entitlement reform be part of fiscal cliff talks? log on to gerriwillis.com, vote on the right hand side of the screen, and we'll share the results. departments paint grover as the villain for why there's no deal. does he deserve the blame?

american enterprise institute and political science, norm, i understand that you blame grover front and center. he's the man carrying a pitch fork tonight. >> well, i blame grover, among others, for a lot of the tribalism we've had in the last few years, but it's also the case. if you look at the simpson-bowles report, the rivlin-dmin economy report, the gang of six and crapo and johanns, all say we need a deal that includes $4 trillion in debt reduction over ten years, and about a third of it coming from renues. you got revenues at 15% or just over that of gdp, and spending at 24%, and you got to bring the spending down, but you got to bring revenues up. frankly, we're not going to have a deal. gerri: it's the object of debate, debated every night here. >> yeah. gerri: i was looking at your

bio, and back in 2006, you wrote a book called "how congress is failing americ" you must feel that you feel all of washington is the problem at this point. is this something that can't be fixed at this point? are we not going to come to a resolution of the fiscal cliff? you've been watching this a very long time. >> i have, and i think the tragedy of this is that there's a deal to be had, and it does not involve all tt much. it involves significant pain for almost everybody, but you're not going to do it without bringing that pain to both sides, and the real trouble we've got now is that we've got a try -- tribal atmosphere. it's a question whether obama and the surrogates can take a message back to the troops who

are dug in hard and basically say we had to give this up, but we got that in return. it's the classic give and take. gerri: it's interesting. i see what you're saying. i understand your point, but the president is not even involved in the negotiation, at this point. he's traveling, doing other things. shshould he be at the table? would it imprprove his hand if , himself, were there? >> you know, he did that kind of negotiates with boehner th last time over the debt limit. i think what you're seeing now with a president who got re-elected with 332 electoral votes and probably winning the pular vote by 3.5%, figuring that he has significant leverage, and, frankly, the leverage tom cole acknowledged here which is right now if you are a minority where you had lerage by blocking things, you're going to end up with a big tax in connection -- new york on everybody. i think we'll see an end game,

the president doing something he did do the last time, going out to the public more, but in the end, it's going to be obama and boehner, after we get done with the staff and the surrogates like tim geithner. gerri: a lot call obama moves more campaigning. one of the questions that's not answered, andbowles brought it up today. he says democrats he to move on entitlements. should entitlements be a part of the conversation? >> oh, i think they absolutely have to be a part of the conversation. you know, if you look at what's happenedo spending over the last five or six years, and we know what's going to happen over the next 20-30 years, it's going to go up including federal spending as a share of gdp because of the relentless demographics. this is all about health care spending, not just entitlements, but the biggest share of the budget which is all of those programs starting with medicare and medicaid. you can't geout of it without dealing with those, a and bowles is absolutely right.

gerri: long way to go. thanks for coming on. appreciate your time. >> sure. thank you. gerri: as a reminder, the revenue from the bush tax cuts would generate just $82.4 billion a year, enough to run the government for ve days. as president obama pushes for tax hikes on wealthier americans, he might look to britain to see the effect it has. it's not revenues. it's surprisingly less. after the labour par, that is, there, pushed for the top tax rate to 50%, 5-0, the richest ft. two-thirds left to avoid paying the new tax. it also stopped people coming to and investing in britain. there's a lesson for you. turns out the proof is in the pudding realizing the errors of the way, the government is cutting the top rate to 45%. more to ce like should washington sub di size wind

energy? more on the fiscal cliff as americans on all levels have to prepare to take the tax hit. hope it doesn't, but i'm going to break it down next. ♪

gerri: i always like to give you the straight poop on everything, and, today, i'm concerned about the fiscal cliff. in the past two days, two very well-connected professional money managers have spoken to me about their trepidation their clients have about the expiration of the bush tax cuts and the cut backs on spending.

money is worried, concernend many are selling as you've seen. to read the stories of the press on the fiscal cliff, well, you'd think change is on the horizon just 33 days away, well, it doesn't maer much. in fact, just sit back, relax. the fiscal cliff is not a big deal. i'll quote one here. it's unlikely all of these bad things happen or stay in effect for an extended period of time. pundits call if the fiscal cliff smoke that is, instead o a cliff, the rising support for junking the fiscal approach as confusing and renaming it the austerity crisis or bomb. that's it. according to the u.s. news and world report, give the cliff another name, and that would change the entire impact on its problems. the reality, though, is this. you'll pay higher taxes in all likelihood consider these numbers from the tax policy center. middle class earners, folks with an income of $64,000, their rate increased 3 #.8% or2,000.

upper middle class folks, $108,000 in income, family of four maybe, two people working, your rate is 4.2% or $ $3500. if you make more than half a million, watch for a more than 5 #% hike in taxes or $15,000 tax increase. in rich land, earners of more than $2.5, an 8% increase in the rate, and this is how much more you pay. this is what they call fair and equal, dividing all the responsibility. i don't know, that's not what it looks like to me. the mainseam media says, forget it, it's not important. take whatever income you have, move the bonuses to calendar 2012, sell stock losers next year, and if you are gifting money to the kids arian grand kids, do it this year when taxes will be far lower. that's what i think. now i want to know what you

think, drop me an e -- e-mail at gerri@foxbusiness.com. >> coming up, obama back on the campaign trail as he pushes his plan to keep us from falling off the fiscal cliff. hearing from a group of small business owners who met with the president yesterday. new evidence why green energy is a wasteful end to taxpayer money. wait until you hear about a new lawsuit causing bashes against wind companies. the los angeles auto show starts this week, the biggest of the this week, the biggest of the year, gerri follows every cent with the spark cash card from capital one,

sven gets great rewards for his small business! how does this thing work? oh, i like it! [ garth ] sven's small business earns 2% cash back on every purche, everday! woo-hoo!!! so that's ten security gators, right? put them on my spark card! why settle for less? testing hot tar... great sinesses deserve great rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with 2% cash back or double miles on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? here's your invoice. gerri: a cliff nobody's talking about. federal green subsidies expected to expire,

gerri: a controversial industry facing a cliff of its own, wind ergy. the federal tax celt for wind power producers expires at the end of the year, intense debate heating up over whrosht -- whether or not the government should throw your dollars in a failing industry in the first place. manhattan institute, great to have you on the show, on set, happy about that. start with the tax credit. >> sure. gerri: it's an industry, let's face it, they don't have a lot to show for themselves, and, yet, we sub subsidize them to te tune of $12.2 billion, why? >> well, what the industry -- remember just a few years ago, they said, well, we're all about reducing carbon dioxide. that was the argument. now it's this we create jobs argument. they say if congress does not extend production tax credits,

we lose 37,000 jobs. they might get an extension, but there's a push among utilities and groups tond the tax credit, and it could be ended. gerri: doesn't work that well. 84% of the infrastructure fails -o produce electricity when demand is greatest. i mean, as a solution to the energy problems, how do you rate it? >> well, it's not a solution. it's wholly dependent on electric utilities and generation that can be dispatchedded. you can't conned on wind. -- count on wind. it's a problem. gerri: the irony is the anti-wind groups are growing. in the europe, there's 500 groups. what's going on? >> it's part of the global backlash of the wind industry, and what's fascinating to me is here's an industry successful in portraying itself as green, green energy, green ectricity, reducing emissions, but when you look at countries around the world, and i've interviewed

people in us trail la, ontario, huge backlash, this is against the large wind projects all over the place. gerri: talk about new york. an inresting example this. >> just lst month, lawyers in new york filed a lawsuit, 60 residents joust north of albany filed a lawsuit that the turbines built within a thousand feet of residences keep them up at night, diminish property values, and they filed suit. that's inkicktive of the backlash. gerri: first time it's heard in the court of law, the issue about the sound. >> in the u.s yes. gerri: seems to me that that's pollution. >> well, sure it is. it's the part -- it exposes the double standard, gerri, and it drives me crazy. wrr green peace, natural resource natural counsel, environmental groups, why not stand up for the small land

ordinary persons? they are really getting a raw deal. the wind energy companies, of course, make handsome profits, but the land owners are getting the short end of the stick. gerri: i wouldn't be happy with them next to me. >> you certainly would not. gerri: something they call the energy strategy counsel suggesting starting a national energy strategy council that would come up with a policy soup to nuts, every federal agency in the world involved. possible? >> well, sure, it's possible. i mean, this is the federal government after all, but wat bothers me is that there are -- this idea we'll have a review, we'll have a four year plan like the pentagon, well, i don't know that's the best model to work on. gerri: all right. well, i have to ask you about b today. >> sure. gerri: big news from bp, federal government saying you are disqualified from winning new contracts. here's bp's statement, the suspension is due to bp's lack

of business integ try as demonstrated by the conduct with rerd to the deepwater horizon blowout explosion, oil spill, and response. now, the stuff did not get hit today. what's your estimate of what it means? >> a temporary move. the obama administraon, again, wanting to show -- hold up bp that we're puppishing them. it's a big company, one of the biggest producers in the u.s.. gerri: matter if it loses contracts in the u.s.? >> they are a lot already. they don't go away, this is just on new contracts. it's a temporary deal. gerri: come back to the set again. >> always happy to be here. gerri: coming up, live to the l.a. auto show and hottest trends in all things cars, and president ama heeds the call to listen to small business owners. kidding. will the latest meeting change his mind? next, three owners who sat down with him yesterday. don't go away. ♪

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♪ gerri: it's about time. president obama finally getting small business owners the time of day hearing their concerns ahead of the looming fiscal cliff. the president's criticized for only sitting do with big business, ceo, and union leaders. joining me now are three owners who atented the meeting with the president,tillegge construction and andy, president o a. harold and associates. welcome, all. i want you all to answer this queson. what does your company do? keith, starting with you. >> hi, gerri, thanks for having

me. a general contracting company, mainly in defense, and we are located in baton rou, louisiana, reasonable offices in dallas, texas, and general contractor. -erri: all right, julia? >> hi, thank you so much, gerri. we help people become healthier, happier, and smarter. gerri: i need a lot of that, yeah. >> it helps you exercise better and sleep better and get better nutrition. gerri: oh, my lord. >> lose pounds. gerri: sounds magical. >> we hope it is. gerri: andy, you're a defense contractor; correct? >> yes, thank you very much for having me tonight. gerri: you're welcome. glad to have you here. andy, how did the president fi you and decide you were the right small business person to have on? >> well, we do, down here in florida, we do computer based and web base training, growing from me, myself, and i over the last five years to 10 # 5 employees in ten states.

we've been reck nilsedded by -- recognized by the small business administration and "ink" magazine ranking number 36. weave been on the radar, and we got the call from the sba that they needed a small business from the southeast to participate. gerri: all right. keith, you know, we spend time reporting on small business, a lot of small business viewers out there, and we talk about the natial federation of independent businesses, and they say two in three businesses, small business owners, say there's too much economic uncertainty, and they want a little less of that. you, yourself, told us these would have been an issue, would ve been an issue ipresident obama didn't meet with us. why is it so iortant to have the small business voice in the conversation over the fiscal cliff? >> well, i mean, you know, actually, the president said that, and it's a known fact, that small business actually drives this country. i mean, we're the biggest employers. it's very, very important.

it was pertinent to have us there, hear our concerns, and, you know, let us voice the opinions, and even more so for us to be there to give us that comfort level so i can come back, do the interview, and go into my own community, to my business, and look forward to expanding, and growing more jobs and continuing to push america. gerri: happy to see small business expand here because you guys are the major employers across the country, and, yet, 55% of small business owners say they would not start a business in this economic climate beuse they think it's just too uncertain, and they think things would be simply too dicey. julia, if you started over again right now, would you be concerned? >> absolutely. i would be concerned, but i also think hat as a start-up, there are many more things that i find in this period of time to be a great time to start a company, and, for us, you know, we're trying to motivate people to be

healthier and happier, and in terms of obesity and all of these opportunities while these horrific issues with america today, you know, there are so many reaso other than the economic climate to be start great companies, and we're focusing on that. gerri: julia, people crit size the -- criticize the president for meeting with the fortune 500 companies and say small business operator meeting was a pr stunt, do you believe that? >> i don't, actually. with the administration for many months on my concerns, and i feel they responded. it was a very intimate conversation. there were 12 amazing entrepreneurs and small business owners next to me. really voicing their opinion, and it was a dialogue, not a one

sided conversation. gerri: andy, finally, to you, small business owners, say they president obama's policies hurt them, you say it's sequestering that would hurt you. >> i speak to sequestering, and i also speak to the uncertainty. for our business to continue to grow and to continue to succeed and even help other signal businesses, we need a decision. we need someone to, you know, the president and the congress to make a decision and let' get on with it because that will allow us to alleviate anxiety moving forward and continue to go about making great computer-based products that we do, and, you know, provide the service to the government. gerri: right. everybody agrees on that. we'd like the uncertainty to go away, keith, julia, andy, thank you for coaching on tonight. we appreciate your time. >> thank you so much. >> thank you so much. >> thank you.

gerri: might not be the oscars, but american banker magazine has a set of awards handed out every year honoring the innovator of the year, banker of the year, and they hand out a lifetime achievement award, and you are never going to goes who they gave it to, retiring congressman barnny frank, the sharp tongue, liberal responsible for the anti-banks laws the biggest in history. he's been a defender of the taxpayer and in response to the bank baouts in 2008, crafted a law that does nothing to address that. that's hardly the only problem with the name sake legislation. according to the heritage foundation, dodd-frank imposes $27 billion in new fees on financial institutions. we'll also require more than $2 million annual labor hours just to comply, just the first 10% of the rules that's been created. the 2300 law cuts fees banks charge for debit card purchases

and forced moody's to downgrade 15 of theargest banks, a huge hit to the stock prices because they can't meet all requirements the law lays out, and it strangled small banks making many go out of business. don't get me started on what the law does to consumers leaving a mark on the financial industry as the magazine points out, but it's not a good one. when we come back, the dividend rush continues as a major retailer jumps on the band wagon. we'll explain. we're live at the l.a. auto show with the hottest tends. areen still a trend? we'll find out, next. for 30 some years at many different park service units across the united states. the only time i've ever had a break is when i was on maternity leave. i have retired from doing this one thing that i loved.

now, i'm going to be able to have the time to explore something different. it's like another chapter.

you said utility is a big thing. what do you mean by that? >> some people think that fuel-efficient cars, you have this tiny little box that carries two people and we are

crimson. we are showing here a seven passenger vehicle getting 30 miles per gallon. suvs that can do things, carry things and still get fuel economy that is good. gerri: let's look at some of the makes and models. would you like to start with tesla? >> sure, let's talk about tesla. it looks a little bit like an amazing vehicle. i have driven in. it is a pretty fast vehicle. it feels like you are driving a ferrari with plenty of room for five people. it is more fuel efficient than a toyota prius. gerri: did tesla have problems in the past? didn't they have trouble testing of these cars? i'm surprised you're so excited. >> well, no, a lot of people get electric carmakers mixed up.

there is fisker karma and tesla. just because one has problems doesn't mean the other does. it is actually a proven company that has a record. fisker karma, they are building this one vehicle and it seems to be riddled with problems. gerri: okay, let's talk about the audi a-7. >> yes, drives great. we look at our reliability of information. 1.2 million vehicles, telling us what went wrong with our cars. as florida's. traditionally they have a lot of electrical problems and a lot of issues. not anymore. they are right up there with the japanese be one that is interesting. what about the hyundai

velociter? >> now, it has nothing to do with what it's based on, but it is quick. the velociter is a fun little car. what is intriguing is that it is a sub compact car. it is a cheap little fuel-efficient car. but it drives sporty. it actually fits for people pretty well. gerri: okay, what about the psion? >> okay, i am six-foot tall. it is a back to the basics car the tran-threes back to the basics. gerri: thank you for coming on tonight. it's great to have you on jake.

>> thank you for having me. gerri: in tonight's top five, the best-selling electric cars in the u.s. this year. number five is the ford focus electric. through august of this year, ford has sold fewer than 200 vehicles. to be fair, the mitsubishi model. sales are up this year. last year, the nissan leaf. and that number two, the electric toyota prius.

the best-selling always controversial chevy volt. it has only about 13,000 sales. that is the best one that sells, it does pretty good. the car is constantly a disappointment and the worst part isn't backed by our taxpayer dollars. still to come, my "two cents more". with all these companies jumping on the dividend train, where should you be investing? answers to help you with your money coming up next. [ heart beating, monitor beeping ] woman: what do you mean, homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods? [ heart rate increases ] man: a few inches of water caused all this? [ heart rate increases ] woman #2: but i don't even live near the water. what you don't know about flood insurance may shock u -- including the fact that a preferred risk policy starts as low as $129 a year.

for an agent, call the number that appears on your screen. ♪ [ gine revs ] ♪ [ male announcer ] oh what fun it is to ride. get the mercedes-benz on your wish list at the winter event going onow -- but hurry, the offer ends soon. gerri: companies making move ahead of the fiscal cliff. what dow component is boosting

ndsri: firms announcing special gerri: many publicly tradednoon, firms are bumping up theird dividend payouts as a result ofh the looming fiscal cliff. just this afternoon, disney announcing it will increase its cash dividend by 25%. an a total of 71 companies have lat announced a dividend this year t compared to just 15 last year. so if it is smart to chase thesd stocks, we talked to john thomal financial dividends, out now before the end of the year to avoid the tax hit. do you think this makes sense for companies to do ts? why are they motivated to do it? >> makes sense for them to do it. they say they do it for the shareholders, and it's a benefit for the shareholders, bt, they -- gerri: including those running the company, be real here. >> that's what they are finding that a tremendous amount of them -- gerri: ceos, board of directors, come on. >> findg stuff like management

owns on average 28% of shares and stuff like that so, for example, walmart pulled it forwd from january to december. they estimate that's going to save the walmart family $180 million. gerri: it's not about you and me. >> ha-ha! gerri: we're not the people they are tryingo make happy, but you have done us a favor of picking the category, those offering the special dividends, though affordable, you might want to buy now, costco, why do you like these companies? >> well, first of all, they are in good trends to begin with. i don't like to buy stocks heading the wrong way, heading south. i like stocks that are making new highs, i shows there's big institute -- gerri: the trend is your friend. >> the trend is your friend. there's institutional demand overpowering supply. costco, and i have to say i'm not a big shopper, but i loch going to costco.

gerri: actually, i love it too, truth be told. resorts, the earners traction to the company? the management? >> big growth overseas in mccow and as asia grows, they will do better and better. it's jack daniels, what more do i have to say? gerri: good point, convincing. okay. i do think, though, that aren't we going to get to a point, though, where the taxes on these dividends outweigh the attractions possibly? i've seen some people write there's a window, 3%-5% dividend that could be the right thing to shop for. w do you weigh in on that? >> i don't let the dividend -- it's like the tail wagging the dog. the dividend does not drive m investment decision, and i think that the -- what's going on now is it's really very interesting the way it's affecting the market. if i was the government, i would not solve this quickly. i would wait until the very end of the year, if possible. why? because people are selling their

stocks and they are taking all extra dividends now, meaning in the first quarter, tax payments to the government will be enormous. gerri: apparently, that's what they want down there in washington. it's worth noting, though, that if you're retired, and you're living on dividend payouts, you're going to see a 43% 4% tax hit. >> yeah. gerri: that's monster. change your strategy at this point if you're in that category? i define one narrowly there. >> yeah, you know, that's a really tough and important question, and it's hard to answer because we don't know, yet, how it's going to really play out, and if they do rais taxes to that degree, then it's possible a lot of companies will lower their dividends or reduce the increases because it's not an efficient use of their capital. gerri: all right. >> it's a difficult question. gerri: all right. we'll let you duck that one, but

next time, no ducking the question. >> okay, i promise. gerri: thankfor coming back. we'll be right back with the swer to the question of the day. should entitlement reform be part of the fiscal talks, and my two crepts more on what members of congress focus on rather than the fiscal cliff. here's a clue. ♪ [ male announcer ] how do you trade? with scottrader streaming quotes, any way you want. fully customize it for your trading process -- from thought to trade, on every screen. and all in real time. which makes it just like having your own trading floor, right at your fingertips.

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♪ gerri: president obama's says he is confident a deal on the fiscal cliff can be reached b christmas. both sides seem so far off. even among senate democrats, there are deep divisns over whether to include cuts to medicare or medicaid.

intel not reform, should it be part of the fiscal cliff talks? here is what some of you are tweeting me. if there is not entitlement reform and we are not backing away from the cliff, we are really doing the tango dane along theedge. randy degrees. you have to curb them to bring in spending. here isrobert. without it talkare a waste of time, probably a wate anyway. ask the question. 91 percent of you said yes. 9 percent said no. surprising. here are your e-mails. says this country is so divided maybe it'' time to reinssate the mason-dixon line, get everyone five years to move to whatever side they believe that. i think they're on both sides. liberals and conservatives. ronnie from florida says to my two presidents in my lifetime had bad economies going into their terms and up to the same thing at work but ties. john f. kennedy and ronald reagan. control spending and cut all taxes. it does not take an economics

degree a figure that out. finally, carol from california. we want the house to protect us as much as possible. they are now or on the defense. i love hearing from you. send me an e-mail. gerri@foxbusiness.com. finally tonight, i feel like all anyone is talking about these days is the fiscal cliff. a topic of almost every newscast, but it does not seem to be a priority for everybody in ashington. one north carolina congressman is wking feverishly on another issue elvis presley day. according to reports democrat larry kessel is focusing his efforts on passing a congressional decreed proclaiming january 8 in honor of the king. they would recognize his birth in mississippi in 1935. the resolution points out the influence on music in american culture, not to mention his military experience. goes on to say the singer exemplified the american dream. you have to admire him. it's not alone